Game signaling apparatus



May 27, 1930,

M. C. SCHWARTZ GAME SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1925 as as agaalveq so FIQB.

MAX C. SCHWARTZ,

Patented May 27, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE GAME SIGNALING APPARATUS Application filed Mai-ch30, 1925. Serial No. 19,860.

This invention relates to game signaling systems, and has, particular reference to an apparatus for accurately timing boxing and other bouts, and producing both audible and visual signals to thereby acquaint the audience of the progress of the game- It is an object of'the invention to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character comprising various electrical circuits, so arranged as to indicate to the audience the various stages of a boxing bout, such as the progress of a round, and the number of the round, and to also indicate the usual one minute rest period between rounds.

A further object of the invention is the provision of, such a device as mentioned above, having the appearance qf a clocl, and various electrical contacts arranged thereon for indicating the minute divisions of the round, by means of both visual and audible signals.

Other important objects I and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

like numerals are employed to designatelike parts throughout--- 7 Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying the invention, and,

- Fi re 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits embodied therein.

Referring specifically to the. drawlngs, thenumeral 5 designates the indicator casing, in the present instance shown as being square, although the shape is immaterial. The device is illustrated as embodying a single face, although it is obvious that it may be formed with any suitable number of faces, whereby it may be observed from all points of the arena or the like. Where more than one indicating face is employed, a single operating mechamsm is used for simultaneously actu- ,ating the several faces. The face of the de-- vice com rises a round, clocklike dial 6,

cated. At each division of the face, is arranged metallic contact members 7, adapted" In the accompanying drawings, wherein 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29 and 30, eac provided equally dlvided into four divisions as indisuitable mechanism, not shown. It is to be noted that the divisions of the dial 6 are arranged at intervals of one minute each, making it necessary forthe hand 8 to make a complete revolution in four minutes.

Arranged at each division of the dial 6, are visual indicators 10, embodying lens 11,

. having painted or otherwise displayed thereon, the minute indication of that particular division, such as One minute, Two minutes, and Three minutes. Each of these visual indicators are provided with an incandescent lamp, 12, 13 and 14, which are adapted to glow momentarily upon the passage of thehand 8 over that particular contact 7. The startin point of the game is indicated at 15, and li ewise embodies a visual signal 16, similar to'the si nals 10, but displaying thereon theword tart. The time consumed during the passage of the hand 8 from the three minute point, to the starting point, is indicated as a rest period, and is so esignated by a visual signal 17, having dis pla ed thereon the word Rest, and caused to ecome visible by means'of a lamp l8.

,The lamp '18 is caused toglow by reason of the hand 8 passing over an elongated contact stri 19, as will be more fully described hereina ter. It is desirable that the round number shall be exhibited at all times during the progress of the game, and to accomplish this,

a casing20has-been provided whereinishoused a plurality of incandescent lam s, 21, 22,

with a lens 31 having displayed thereon the figures 1 to 10, inclusive, itbeing under- .stood that the average boxing match or bout is of ten round duration. Each of the lamps 21 to 30 is suitably electrically connected, and adapted to glow progressively, upon the progress of the game. The face or dial 6 is provided with a metallic contact member 32, adapted tobe engaged by the hand'S upon its passage thereover. This contact 32 has suitable electrical connection with mechanism, to be hereinafter described, for progressively bringing the lamps 21 to 30 into the electriccircui The device com rises an audible si al in addition to the visual signals, and 1n this instance is shown asa bell, indicated at 33, in Figure 2, and comprises a clapper 34, adapted to be operated by electrical means,

' to behereinafter described.

- with a wire 38.

I a solenoid magnet 39. The opposite side of the magnet'39 is connected with a wire 40, through'the medium of a short wire 41 the wire having connection with the nega tive side of the battery. It will therefore be obvious, that upon the passage of the hand 1 8 over the starting contact7, current will pass from the battery 34, through wire 35,

hand 8, contact 7, wire 36, lamp 16, causing it to glow, wire 37, wire 38,- solenoid magnet 39, wires 40 and 41, and back to'the opposite ole of the batter? 34, The passage of the and 8 over the one minute contact '7 will permit current to pass from the battery as befiore, through the hand 8, contacts 7, wire 42 towire 38, thence through the magnet 39 and back to the 'negativeside of the batter Illiwill be notedthat the one minute period, is provided with two contacts, the three minute period with four contacts, and the two minute period with three contacts. The passage of the h'and8 over these several contacts will permit current to pass therethrough as before stated, the two minute contacts 7 bein connected with the lamp 13 by wires 43, an the lamp in turn being connected with the wire 38 by a wire 44. Likewise the three minute contacts 7' are connected with the lamp 14 by means of wires 45, and the lamp in turn being connected with the wire 38 by means of a wire 46.

.,In each instance of the'passage of the hand 8 over any one of the contacts 7, will cause the solenoid magnet 39 to become energized. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the magnet 39 is provided with an armature 47 havingpivotal connection with the clapper 34, consequently whenever the magnet is energized,

the, armature 47 is drawn downwardly,*causing the clapper 34 to swing upon its pivot 48, and against the tension of a. spring 49. Upon release of the armature, the spring causes the clapper-to move upward, causing itsweighted end to strike the bell 33. The passage of the hand 8 over the one minute contacts 7 will cause the bell to sound twice, and the passage of the hand v 8 over the two minute and three minute contacts 7, will cause the bell to sound three and four times respectively.

As before stated, the rest period is adapted to be displayed for substantially the entire time of the passage of the hand 8 between the three minute period, and the start period. The elongated contact strip 19 is connected with thelamp 18 by means of a short wire' 51, and the lamp is in turn connected with the negative side of the battery through the medium of a wire'52.

The several lamps 21 "to 30 inclusive are connected with the positive side of the battery by means of a common lead wire 53,

having a cut-out switcharranged therein.-

The lamps 21 to 30 inclusive, are each provided with a lead wire, indicated at 54, 55,.

56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63, in turn having-connection with metallic spring fingers 64. The fingers 64 bear against a rotatable.

bodies a solenoid magnet 68, connected at I one side with the contact 32, and. at its other side'with a wire 69, in turn connected with the return wire 40. The magnet 68 is provided with an armature 70, having pivotal connection with a pawl 71, in turn enga 'ng a ratchet wheel 72, fast upon the end 0 the drum 65. Thus when the magnet 68 is energized, as is the case whenever the hand.

passes over contact 32 and the start point,

the drum will be rotated a step, by reason of the armature 70 being drawn inwardly, and

moving the pawl a corresponding distance to rotate the ratchet wheel. Thus a step by step movement is imparted to the drum 65 every time the hand passes over the contact 32, or at the start of every round. The contacts 66 are so arranged, that as the drum is; I rotated, the lamps 21 to 30 will be alternately.

brought into circuit, and the preceding lampcut out of the circuit. T us the observer will be enabled, to tell at a beer of the round in progress.

glance the num- Assuming that everythingis in readiness, 4

the mechanism is started, and as the hand 8 passes over the start point, the bell 33 will sound once, the lamp- 16 glow momentarily, and the drum rotated so that lamp 21 is brought into circuit. As the hand passes over the one minute period, the bell will.

sound twice, and the lamp 12 will glow momentarily. As the hand, 8 passes over the two minute period, the bell will sound three times, and the lamp 13 willglowmomentarily. I

Asthe hand passes over the three minute period, the bellwill sound four times, and

the lamp 14 will glow momentarily. Thus the audience will be able to follow the progress of the round. by merely glancing at the device. After the hand passes from the three'minute period, it engages the contact 19, causingthe lamp 50 to glow and illuminate the rest period. This operation continues until the end of the contest. It is obvious that all parts are suitably insulated one from the other.

It will be observed from the foregoing, that an extremely simple and efficient form of game signal has been provided, one which will keep the audience advised at all times as to the progress of the game, and at the same time accurately timing such game, and thereby avoid the now prevalent practice of showing favoritism to either contestant, by the timekeeper. It is well known in sport contests, that a timekeeper will often sound his signal ahead of time to enable his favorite contestant to regain his position, or as is the case man times, a second or two more to a round w1ll enable a contestant to obtain a decision over his opponent, where it is a parent to the timekeeper that such would the case. With this device, the possibility of unfairness to either op onent is avoided, and the audience is assure of an impartial decision. The device is extremely advantageous in many games, where decisions are rendered on a time basis. The mechanism is such as can be very cheaply manufactured and mar keted.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown-and described is to be taken as the preferred one, but that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to with 40 ,out departing from the spirit of the invention,

or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim is A time indicator of the character described comprising a main casing having a dial arranged thereon, electrical contact elements carried by saiddial adjacent its edges, a hand means operable by the passage of the hand over a contact adjacent the starting point for causing the said figures to become successively illuminated for each complete revolution of the hand.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' MAX C. SCHWARTZ.

for traversing said dial, said dial divided infour equal divisions of one minute each, said hand connected with a source of electrical energy, certain of said contact elements arranged at the minute divison of the dial, electrical connection between the last named contacts and both visual and audible signals, one of said last named contacts arranged at the first division of the dial for indicating the startin point, two of said contacts arranged at t e second division in spaced relation for indicating both visibly and audibly the one minute elapsed time, three of said contacts arranged at the third division in spaced relation for indicating both visibly and audibly the two minute elapsed time, four of said contacts arranged at the fourth division in spaced relation for indicating both 

